Save the Date: 2020 Virtual Convocation

Taking place Friday, May 15 at 9:00 AM

You’re invited to celebrate all of our graduating PharmCATs during the 2020 Virtual Convocation event airing May 15 at 9:00 AM!

Help us make this a memorable event by tuning in and sharing messages of joy and encouragement through our social media channels. Information on how to watch will follow.

COVID-19 Antibody Testing Initiative

The University of Arizona has started analyzing blood samples from hundreds of thousands of Arizonans to determine who has developed antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19. 

If you're interested in participating, go to covid19antibodytesting.arizona.edu to start the process. Click on the “Sign-Up Required Here” link. You then will be asked to provide basic information about yourself, complete an online consent process, and schedule an appointment using the online tool. You will receive an email confirmation with details about your appointment, including the date, time and directions to the facility.

At the moment, the first phase is limited to 4,500 health care workers, first responders and members of the general public in Pima County. You will be notified via email when the program is ready for additional participants. At that point, you will log back into your survey to complete the online consent form and schedule an appointment.

COIVD Testing FAQ

Virtual QI Poster Presentations

Tuesday & Wednesday, May 5 & 6

Please be sure to join us for our live virtual quality improvement project poster sessions. Over the last two semesters, the P2 students worked with pharmacist preceptors in all types of settings to address quality and safety issues.

The poster sessions will take place on Tuesday, May 5 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, and on Wednesday, May 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Click here to attend via Zoom, and here to see the list of presentations.

Poster session attendees are welcome to provide direct feedback to all groups by completing this survey.

Pediatric Pharmacy Association 29th Annual Meeting

This was the first time the conference was held completely virtually!

The Pediatric Pharmacy Association's 29th Annual Meeting took place virtually this past week from April 29 - May 3. We are excited to share that The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy was well-represented by faculty, residents, students, and alumni. 

Here are some highlights from the conference: 

• Hanna Phan, PharmD, FCCP, FPPA, Associate Professor and the 2019-2020 President of PPA, delivered the State of the Association Address.
• Liz Vuong (Class of 2022) presented updates to other student chapters on PediaCATS.
• Dr. Collin Strunk, PGY2 Pediatric Resident, delivered a platform presentation on his resident project, “Perspectives of Patients and Families Regarding Cannabis and Cannabidiol Products in Cystic Fibrosis Care".
• Former student and resident alumni were involved as moderators for conference sessions and/or recognized for their contributions in committee leadership, including Dr. Amy Nguyen (PharmD Class of 2015) and Dr. Catherine Hobart (Peds Resident, Class of 2018). 

Pharmacy Practice and Science Department Highlights: May 2020

Publications

Availability of information for dosing commonly used medications in special ICU populations. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2020;77:529-34.

• Eastman, C.
• Brian Erstad, PharmD, MCCM, FCCP, FASHP

Hyperoncotic albumin reduces net fluid loss associated with hemodialysis. Hosp Pharm 2020;55:130-4.

• Buckley, M.
• Brian Erstad, PharmD, MCCM, FCCP, FASHP
• Lansburg, J.
• Agarwal, S.

Cefdinir-induced red stool and purple discoloration of nutritional formula: A case report. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy. 26;2: 286-288.

• Eljaaly, K
• Alshehri, S.

Photosensitivity induced by lomefloxacin versus other fluoroquinolones: A meta-analysis. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy. Epub ahead of print.

• Eljaaly, K.
• Alkhalaf, A.
• Alhifany, A.
• Alshibani, M.

Impact evaluation of a four-year academic-community partnership in provision of medication management and tertiary prevention services for rural patients with diabetes and/or hypertension. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2020;17; Article 101038.

• Anderson, E.
• David Rhys Axon, PhD, MPharm, MS
• Taylor, A.
• Towers, V.
• Terri Warholak, PhD, RPh
• Johnson, M.
• Forbes, S.
• Manygoats, T

Is it Time for a Quality Rating System for Colleges of Pharmacy? American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2020: 84 (3); Article 7700. 

• Nau, D.
• Aaronson, B.
• Terri Warholak, PhD, RPh

Identifying drug therapy problems through patient consultation at community pharmacies A Quality Improvement Project. Journal of Patient Safety. Published ahead of print. J Patient Saf. 2020;16(1): 19-23.

• Patel, M.
• Campbell, M.
• Mosleem, M.
• Spriggle, P.
• Terri Warholak, PhD, RPh

Role of clinical pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel in transitions of care. J Am Coll Clin Pharm. 2020;3:532–545.

• Stranges, P. 
• Jackevicius, C.
• Anderson, S.
• Bondi, D.
• Danelich, I.
• Englin, F. 
• Hansen, M.
• Nys, C.
• Patel, R.
• Hanna Phan, PharmD, FCCP, FPPA 
• Philibrick, A.
• Ranger, M.
• Schumacher, C.
• Smithgall, S.

Evidence demonstrating the pharmacist’s direct impact on clinical outcomes in pediatric patients: An Opinion of the Pediatrics Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. J Am Coll Clin Pharm. 2020. Epub ahead of print:

• LaRochelle, J.
• Smith, K.
• Benavides, S.
• Bobo, K
• Chung, A.
• Farrington, E.
• Amy Kennedy, PharmD, BCACP
• Knoppert, D.
• Lee, B.
• Manasco, K.
• Pettit, R.
• Hanna Phan, PharmD, FCCP, FPPA 
• Potts, A.
• Sandritter, T.
• Hagemann, T.

Response to Yang, Shi, Wang, et al. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2020;112: 428.

• Oh, Y.
• Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, FASHP, FAzPA
• Yun, S.
• Sandipan Bhattacharjee, MS, PhD
• Marion Slack, PhD
• Martin, J.
• Jeter, J.
• Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN

Grants

R21AI152394 (PI: Lussier)

NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease

Systems-level Genetic Patterns Underlying Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis in Humans

To discover the specific genetic factors associated with DCM pathogenesis, we will conduct genome-wide analyses on the human genetic variants and complex patterns that underlie susceptibility to disseminated coccidioidomycosis. 

Role: Scientific Advisor for Jason H. Karnes, PharmD, PhD, BCPS, FAHA

Kudos

• A retrospective study co-authored by Drs. Khalid Eljaaly and Micahel Katz was accepted for publication.
• Dr. Khalid Eljaaly received a grant from the university, which was announced specifically for COVID-19 studies.
• Dr. Khalid Eljaaly was invited by the Saudi Commission of Health Specialties to give a webinar titled "Pharmacotherapeutic Intervention for COVID-19." More than 17,000 Healthcare providers registered for it and more than 11,000 attended live.
• The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy invited Dr. Khalid Eljaaly to give two workshops about antibiotic stewardship in Dubai in February. He is one of the educators in a course titled "Antimicrobial Stewardship for the Gulf, Middle East and North Africa."

Pharmacology and Toxicology Department Highlights: May 2020

Grants

Heidi Mansour, PhD, RPh

• New NIH NIA U01 grant award 1U01AG066623 for 4 years. This is an MPI grant award with $1.5 million in year 1. 

Inventions/Patents

New provisional patent "Formulations and Methods for Treating Pulmonary Disorders"

• Shebuski, R.
• Heidi Mansour, PhD, RPh
• David Encinas, PHD

Invention UA20-161 "Design and Development of Innovative Formulations of Resatorvid for Targeted Skin Drug Delivery and Applications Therein".

• Heidi Mansour, PhD, RPh
• Georg Wondrak, PhD
• Ruiz, V.
• Dickinson, S.
• Curiel, C.
• Chow. S.

Wellness Wednesdays: 4H at Home

Wednesday, May 6 | 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Elizabeth Sparks presents fast, easy ways to sneak healthy foods into your diet. Learn the background behind the science of whole grains along with tips, tricks and advice on how to make nutritious (and flavorful) smoothies and salad dressings the whole family will love. Elizabeth Sparks is an Assistant Agent at Cooperative Extension - University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Smoothie Competition

Recipes due Wednesday, May 6

Pharm Photo of the Week

PharmCATs hard at work!

College of Pharmacy alumni Karol Candlish, PharmD, is part of a Walgreens initiative to provide COVID-19 testing to the local community. Sites in both Tucson and Phoenix are staffed with pharmacists from multiple stores, and are seeing patients every 10-15 mins throughout the day.

As trusted healthcare providers with a close proximity to their patients, pharmacists will continue to play a pivotal role in the expansion of testing capabilities.

We're proud to see PharmCATs enhancing the profession every day.

About PharmWeekly

PharmWeekly is the official internal communication for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, published during the academic year weekly on Mondays at 10 a.m. by the Communications Office. PharmWeekly is distributed to College of Pharmacy students, faculty, staff, the National Advisory Board and UA Communications colleagues. If you have a submission, email it to Ali Bridges by the Friday prior no later than 2:00 p.m. If a colleague or friend of the college would like to receive PharmWeekly, a sign-up form is here. 

All issues of PharmWeekly are archived online. View previous issues.